I love learning new languages in a new country, because for the first few months every day has its small communication victories that are appreciated more deeply due to the frustrations that have gone before. As 2013 wraps up, I want to share with you some victories I've seen these last few months that make me know I am progressing, no matter what it feels like on any given day.
1. I easily and instinctively respond to my Chinese name now when someone else says it.
2. I can write my own (Chinese) name now.
3. I can also write over 200 Chinese words from memory and get them right by the second or third time.
4. I can read or make an excellent educated guess about what the settings are on my washing machine.
5. I can interact with storekeepers, asking for what I want, discussing the quality, and explain which thing I want.
6. I can look at the name over a store and tell you what kind of things it has without looking inside to see.
7. I can order a meal at McDonald's without using the Deaf person's picture menu.
8. I can understand some conversations that I just overhear.
9. When two Chinese people talk together, if I listen I can usually pick up the main subject they're discussing (although not always the details).
10. I have texted back and forth with Chinese friends in Chinese.
11. I can successfully navigate my way around a city using Chinese if I know the name of the bus stop. No more deaf-mute pointing at a piece of paper for me!!
12. Sometimes when I'm watching Chinese-bought DVDs and am too lazy to turn off the subtitles, I can read almost all the words of the episodes I'm watching.
13. I can answer taxi drivers' questions to their satisfaction.
14. I can tell a taxi driver to stop once he crosses the street, and give more adequate directions to him.
15. I can recognize a lot of words when we sing at the Three Self, and I can express myself in small ways to our Father above.
16. I can recite a short classical Chinese poem about the moonlight for you at any moment.
17. I can tell the delivery guy on the phone where I am without stuttering.
18. I can have conversations with the water guy on the phone about when he should come and when is he coming.
19. I can tell you the Chinese word for almost everything I have in my kitchen, living room, and bedroom.
20. I can ask others questions and understand most of the responses.
However, there are a LOT of things I still can't do. So my New Year's language resolutions are as follows:
1. Learn enough characters to be able to buy train tickets online.
2. Learn to use TaoBao (the Chinese e-bay, very useful for buying everything, and they deliver!)
3. Make some jokes in Chinese.
4. Be able to tell you a small story about my life or my day without stuttering or making grievous grammatical mistakes.
5. Be able to tell you the plots of my favorite movies in Chinese.
As you can see, there's a lot of road yet to cover. I'm excited by the continued challenge learning brings!!
1. I easily and instinctively respond to my Chinese name now when someone else says it.
2. I can write my own (Chinese) name now.
3. I can also write over 200 Chinese words from memory and get them right by the second or third time.
4. I can read or make an excellent educated guess about what the settings are on my washing machine.
5. I can interact with storekeepers, asking for what I want, discussing the quality, and explain which thing I want.
6. I can look at the name over a store and tell you what kind of things it has without looking inside to see.
7. I can order a meal at McDonald's without using the Deaf person's picture menu.
8. I can understand some conversations that I just overhear.
9. When two Chinese people talk together, if I listen I can usually pick up the main subject they're discussing (although not always the details).
10. I have texted back and forth with Chinese friends in Chinese.
11. I can successfully navigate my way around a city using Chinese if I know the name of the bus stop. No more deaf-mute pointing at a piece of paper for me!!
12. Sometimes when I'm watching Chinese-bought DVDs and am too lazy to turn off the subtitles, I can read almost all the words of the episodes I'm watching.
13. I can answer taxi drivers' questions to their satisfaction.
14. I can tell a taxi driver to stop once he crosses the street, and give more adequate directions to him.
15. I can recognize a lot of words when we sing at the Three Self, and I can express myself in small ways to our Father above.
16. I can recite a short classical Chinese poem about the moonlight for you at any moment.
17. I can tell the delivery guy on the phone where I am without stuttering.
18. I can have conversations with the water guy on the phone about when he should come and when is he coming.
19. I can tell you the Chinese word for almost everything I have in my kitchen, living room, and bedroom.
20. I can ask others questions and understand most of the responses.
However, there are a LOT of things I still can't do. So my New Year's language resolutions are as follows:
1. Learn enough characters to be able to buy train tickets online.
2. Learn to use TaoBao (the Chinese e-bay, very useful for buying everything, and they deliver!)
3. Make some jokes in Chinese.
4. Be able to tell you a small story about my life or my day without stuttering or making grievous grammatical mistakes.
5. Be able to tell you the plots of my favorite movies in Chinese.
As you can see, there's a lot of road yet to cover. I'm excited by the continued challenge learning brings!!
